State of Origin: All the winners and losers out of NSW’s big win over Queensland in Game II
The biggest winner for the Maroons wasn’t even on the park, while bottom-of-the-table Parramatta had two reasons to celebrate. See the full winners and losers from State of Origin game two.
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Parramatta fans were left daring to dream about its soon-to-be dynamic duo taking them back to the glory days while David Fifita’s stocks skyrocketed and a Blues back rower showed why he’s the hottest player on the transfer market.
Here’s a look at the winners and losers out of NSW’s big win over Queensland at the MCG in game two.
WINNERS
Angus Crichton (NSW)
Show him the money. Angus Crichton woke up on Thursday morning as the hottest commodity on the player market.
Crichton’s asking price just keeps going up as the Roosters back rower continued a purple patch of form at the MCG.
The Roosters are expected to lock him in soon but if they don’t open up their cheque book in a hurry, another club will. Crichton, who is unsigned for 2025, was enormous for the Blues and relentless in attack and defence.
It’s hard to believe this is the same Crichton who’s NRL career was in jeopardy not that long ago, and who started the season in NSW Cup.
David Fifita (QLD)
A jaded Billy Slater refused to concede changes needed to be made in the post match but the Queensland coach can no longer ignore Titans powerhouse David Fifita.
Somehow Cowboys back rower Heilum Luki, who was included in the reserves, found himself ahead of Fifita in the back row pecking order for game two.
Luki is no slouch but he’s no Fifita, either.
Not many players are, and that’s the point. Fifita is a wrecking ball with the talent to turn a game on its head.
If he delivers against the Sharks, like he did against the Warriors, Slater must make that phone call.
Mitchell Moses/Zac Lomax/Parramatta Eels (NSW)
Parramatta shouldn’t be last on the NRL ladder and man-of-the-match Mitchell Moses proved that at the MCG with an outstanding performance.
Eels fans will be looking to Moses to help drag them off the canvas this season while they are daring to dream when it comes to next year when Zac Lomax arrives at the club on a four-year deal.
Lomax wasn’t far behind Moses as the Blues best player and the prospect of the duo replicating their Blues form for Parra has Eels fans very excited.
Add the right head coach to the mix and Eels fans are daring to dream, maybe not about breaking the 36-year title drought but at least a return to the finals and as genuine contenders.
The way Moses combined with Lomax on the right side has Eels fans salivating.
Jake Trbojevic (NSW)
Skipper Jake Trbojevic has played 61 minutes in two games, that’s less time than dumped captain James Tedesco (80 mins) has played in this series.
The excuse for reduced minutes in game one was the fact the Blues were forced to play with 12 men, throwing out the bench rotation.
It’s getting harder for Michael Maguire to explain away Trbojevic’s lack of input. Maguire will stick solid with Trbojevic for game two but questions over his effectiveness in the Origin arena remain.
He doubled his output in terms of run metres (79m) at the MCG. Wednesday night’s win has spared Trbojevic from the selection chopping block and a victory in the decider, securing his place as a series-winning captain, would surely lock him in for at least another series.
NRL/Queensland
This series has gone from “Boring” to an absolute blockbuster to be fought out in the Origin Cauldron and a promoter’s dream.
The script writes itself. Liam Martin, already a grub in the eyes of Queenslands, will be public enemy No. 1 at Suncorp Stadium, and there will be as little love waiting for Latrell Mitchell in the banana bending state.
Despite Queensland’s record in Suncorp deciders (10 wins from 13), the Maroons go into the clash as $2 outsiders, and Slater will lap up the underdog tag, which will no doubt add the theatre of it all in the build-up. Bring it on!
LOSERS
Reece Walsh/Brisbane (QLD)
Reece Walsh is a confidence player and it looked as though his confidence was completely sapped on Wednesday night.
To add insult to his meagre 49 run metres, he was manhandled all night and even rag dolled by Latrell Mitchell.
That does not bode well for the Brisbane Broncos, who are in a battle to stay in touch with the top eight.
The Broncos can’t afford for their most influential player on the field to be off his game, not when general Adam Reynolds is already out injured and isn’t expected back until Round 22.
Billy Slater (QLD)
The Maroons coach is about to have his metal tested in a big way. So far Slater’s Origin coaching record is unblemished, and he was victorious in 2022 decider. But this time feels different.
Slater insisted that Michael Maguire’s glass house comments didn’t get to him. But it clearly unsettled him and his Maroons.
Slater’s pick-and-stick mantra will also be put to the test.
The Maroons’ hapless performance on Wednesday night has Slater on the back foot, and the decider will show exactly what he is made of as a coach.
Maroons pack (QLD)
What happened to the ferocious Maroons pack that took no mercy on the Blues in game one? Talk about ineffective.
Reuben Cotter and Lindsay Collins, who normally rise to the Origin occasion, barely made a dent at the MCG. They combined for just 152 metres.
Jeremiah Nani only had one run in the entire first half. Pat Carrigan was the only forward to register more than 100 metres.
While the bench forwards of Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Capewell were hardly sighted in their respective stints.
The trouble for Slater, is that outside David Fifita there are no obvious quick fixes for game three.
Joseph-Aukuso Suualli (NSW)
The Roosters star will have served his four-game suspension for knocking out Reece Walsh in game one by the time game three roles around but he is now long odds of making an Origin comeback.
Latrell Mitchell, who was called in to replace him, has made the centre spot his own once again and the question must be asked why he wasn’t there for the series opener.
Hammer/Dolphins (QLD)
The last thing the Dolphins need is to lose their strike fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to a shoulder injury as the side’s battle for a top eight spot heats up.
Tabuai-Fidow picked up an AC joint injury on Wednesday night.
Some players can get through with an AC joint issue but it’s hardly ideal for the Dolphins, who will need Tabuai-Fidow at his best in the run home, which features Penrith, Roosters and the Storm twice.
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Originally published as State of Origin: All the winners and losers out of NSW’s big win over Queensland in Game II
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